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Drilling, scraping and high pitch sounds are what most people hear and zone in on when taking an annual visit to the dentist. It’s a menacing and daunting trip that’s an anxiety provoking pain for people to go through. Whether your 12 or 22, the dentist still sends fear into the minds of anyone at any age. What we and I’m sure you want to know is, why exactly do people feel this way?
The Dental Phobia - Signs and Symptoms
We all, I’m sure, have experienced some part of anxiety or stress at a particular point in our lives. So what exactly are the signs and symptoms you may feel while driving to the dentist, to sitting in the waiting room? Some of them include:
- Racing heartbeat
- Sweating
- Visible distress - panicking or crying
- Low blood pressure or feeling faint
Causes of Dental Anxiety
The cause of your dental anxiety could be for any personal reason, but if you can’t seem to pin down the reasoning behind it then we have some possibilities as to why you may feel angst. A handful include:
- A past traumatic experience
- Trust issues
- General anxiety or looming depression
- Fear of loss of control
Managing Dental Anxiety
We all have to go to the dentist because it’s a necessity we have to keep, in order for our mouth hygiene to stay up-to-date. You can’t escape it, so face it.
Here are some ways to manage your angst:
- Meditation
- Deep breathing
- Distractions (listening to music or watching something)
Your Dentist is there to Help
Remember, your dentist is there to help. He or she does not want to hurt you and they actually want to keep you as comfortable as you can be with little to no pain through the visit. Use there expertise to give you ease of mind and make sure to share any concerns you may have, with them.
You can also ask them for:
- Happy gas - this will surely make you feel loopy and more relaxed
- Conscious sedation
- A shot in your mouth - this is a typical method that, for a certain amount of time, will numb the direct and close surrounding area where the shot was administered
Going to the dentist should not be a scary thing because it is a vital necessity that will help your teeth and overall mouth in the long run. Don’t let your teeth yellow and suffer for you being too chicken to make a visit to the dentist : )
